Our Wedding Story: Galway girl in a jacuzzi

Victoria Smith and Adrian Cradock

NCAD graduate Victoria, a visual artist and teacher from Salthill, Galway met Adrian Cradock, from Headford, Co Galway, in a jacuzzi at the Ardilaun Hotel in 2011.

Victoria had just returned from the UK where she was working as an artist and teacher and is now a member of Engage Art Studios in Galway City and founder of Galway Arts Education Agency.

Adrian, a sports rehab specialist, worked for the Irish rugby team, Galway City Gym and various teams across Galway city and county before setting up his own clinic, Cradock Performance and Injury.

In 2014, he proposed to Victoria on a hill overlooking Galway Bay after an evening stroll with their golden Labrador, Teddy.

On October 17th, 2015, in front of 120 guests, they were married in Christ The King Church, Tullycross.

Victoria, wearing a dress from Anabel Rose in Dublin, walked up the aisle with her father, Raymond Smith, to Nella Fantasia, sung by classical soprano Nicole Pierce.

The bride's mother is Ann Smith and the groom's parents are Margaret Cradock and the late John Cradock.

After a pit-stop at Coyne’s pub, everyone gathered at Renvyle House Hotel where the wedding meal consisted of champagne, oysters, crabmeat, Connemara rack of lamb and turbot.

The groom's cousins' band EDFT performed after dinner and the newlyweds' first dance was choreographed to Paloma Faith's Only Love Can Hurt Like This. DJ Sean Feeney played until 3am.

Celebrations continued the following day at Kylemore Abbey for the Connemara Sea Week Festival and the launch of a new album by The Whileaways, the lead singer of which, Noriana, is married to the groom's first cousin, Éimhín Cradock, formerly of The Saw Doctors.

Photography: Eimantas Greitmantas